Roster Building/Team Building/Future Trade/Drafting thread.

[Lahey]

He's signed Tanev, what else? That's actually good?

Idk how you forget but the OEL signing is great as well as Stolarz

 

[ErnieLeafs]

Look at Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly. Never good enough for fans until they won Stanley Cups and Conn Smithes. Then never good enough afterward.

Great players don’t win Stanley cups every year - especially with such there’s a high level of pairity. You don’t trade players like Auston Matthews away….that’s cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Instead: let Marner walk, re-sign JT for cheap, and have your pick of the best UFAs and reload for next year when Matthews is healthy.

This is the best Leafs team I’ve seen in a very long time. Finally a balanced defense, a good bottom 6…this team is set up to have a shot every year until Matthews is well into his 30s.

There's a lot of not seeing the forest for the trees going on, because of how we lost games 4 and 5. There needs to be a re-tool, and it starts with Marner leaving

 

[WTFMAN99]

He did well with the free agents. I'm hoping he can do the same with the trade market through the off-season, especially to dump a lot of dead weight. But also maybe do push for a Rielly trade or maybe look at making an aggressive hockey trade. I dunno who or what yet... we'll see.

Being able to accrue cap space for once in our life time would be nice.

Jarnkrok
Domi
Kampf
Robertson

Easy ones, right?

I am hoping Morgan Rielly does not dig in too much with the NMC.

If he's willing to waive though, the return is not likely to be great.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Idk how you forget but the OEL signing is great as well as Stolarz

You've got a very lax threshold for the term "great."

They're fine, Nothing beyond what another GM could do.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Not that my opinion counts for much but I thought Tree did a good job, he surrounded the stars with damn near everything you could ask for. The star players just sucked.

We can't rebuild/blow it up because this year and the 2 years following, the 1st round picks are gone. I'd likely mandate that future 1sts are not to be traded.

Berube did well, again, I blame the players more.

It's easier to say who I am advocating for keeping

Knies
88
McCabe
Tanev
Carlo
Stolarz

If someone makes me a "fair" offer for Matthews that includes a "1st line centre" - I am doing it - Does that deal exist? Not really, no.

You hope McDavid is willing to come home...because that's what it will take to pull this era out of the dumpster.

I don't see how you can re-sign Marner and/or JT - too much stink on them

Rielly, Domi, Kampf and Jarnkrok would be guys I would be looking to move as well.

It's harsh but it needs to be.

I mean, if Matthews is on the table, everyone is on the table.

Perhaps save for Knies, but possibly including Nylander.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I mean, if Matthews is on the table, everyone is on the table.

Perhaps save for Knies, but possibly including Nylander.

You won't find another Knies, he's actually a unicorn.

88 is pretty well earning the paycheck, considering he's on the "2nd line" - he does well

McCabe just extended
Tanev just signed last summer
Carlo we just traded a lot for

Stolarz makes 2.5M and was one of the best goalies in the league last year...it would be difficult to get fair value back.

 

[TMLAM34]

We’ve blown our assets these past few years on garbage that has left us with very minimal assets to trade to actually improve our team.

There also really isn’t many free agents that can come in and play in the top six, Benn (probably re-signing in Dallas), Boeser (probably signing in Minnesota or going to play in the States), Ehlers (more of the same shit we have, poor man’s Marner), Nelson (same as Boeser) and Bennett (guy is laughing at our organization, no chance he signs here)…

 

[TMLAM34]

You won't find another Knies, he's actually a unicorn.

88 is pretty well earning the paycheck, considering he's on the "2nd line" - he does well

McCabe just extended
Tanev just signed last summer
Carlo we just traded a lot for

Stolarz makes 2.5M and was one of the best goalies in the league last year...it would be difficult to get fair value back.

Knies, Nylander, McCabe, Tanev, Carlo and Stolarz would be the guys I keep as well.

Rest for the right deal, I’m all for it.

 

[Rare Jewel]

You won't find another Knies, he's actually a unicorn.

88 is pretty well earning the paycheck, considering he's on the "2nd line" - he does well

McCabe just extended
Tanev just signed last summer
Carlo we just traded a lot for

Stolarz makes 2.5M and was one of the best goalies in the league last year...it would be difficult to get fair value back.

That's what I mean, if there is an untouchable, it's Knies.

But if you are entertaining trading Matthews, then I don't see how you could not look at everything.

The reality with Nylander is he's 29, is his value going to be this high again, and perhaps they could/should cash in on him.

McCabe, I wouldn't be opposed to moving him before that contract kicks in, actually. It's not that he's bad; but just see what's out there.

Can't say the same for Carlo; I'd be moving him quickly before he gets another head injury.

 

[WTFMAN99]

That's what I mean, if there is an untouchable, it's Knies.

But if you are entertaining trading Matthews, then I don't see how you could not look at everything.

The reality with Nylander is he's 29, is his value going to be this high again, and perhaps they could/should cash in on him.

McCabe, I wouldn't be opposed to moving him before that contract kicks in, actually. It's not that he's bad; but just see what's out there.

Can't say the same for Carlo; I'd be moving him quickly before he gets another head injury.

What are you getting for Nylander that is better than Nylander? Ditto Carlo and McCabe?

We've been looking for a top 4 RD forever and we got one with Carlo

McCabe is fine.

We're not turning into a tank/rebuilding team for at least another 2 more seasons because we don't have our 1sts.

 

[Tony Romo]

Guys we aren/t rebuilding. we have no 1st rounder until 2027. It's going to be a retool with 25m++ opening up this offseason.

Really need to get rid of Kampf/Jarnkrok this offseason. Matthews/Marner haven't been good at all but there's still like 6 guys who haven't scored these playoffs

 

[Rare Jewel]

What are you getting for Nylander that is better than Nylander? Ditto Carlo and McCabe?

We've been looking for a top 4 RD forever and we got one with Carlo

McCabe is fine.

We're not turning into a tank/rebuilding team for at least another 2 more seasons because we don't have our 1sts.

It's not better in one instance; it's about getting two reallly good players (maybe some picks) that are 25 or younger to build the next core with, along with Knies.

The same idea applies to Matthews. I wouldn't consider it tanking.


Part of the reasoning with the two dmen is I just don't like how they play. And in this scenario, Berube is not the coach.

I could live with McCabe, but Carlo is just not it for me.

 

[MarMarSab3]

I honestly believe we need to see what Matthews is permanently away from Marner. I think you need to find a way to move Kampf, Jarnkrok, Holmberg, Reilly and let Marner walk and only sign Tavares if it's in that 5 mil range

 

[Fogelhund]

Knies, Nylander, McCabe, Tanev, Carlo and Stolarz would be the guys I keep as well.

Rest for the right deal, I’m all for it.

I think the keep list is longer than that.

Lorentz has been an ok 4th liner. Laughton is a decent 4th liner as well... we just paid too much for him. Holmberg is a decent 13th player, and is cheap.

OEL has provided some great play for us at times, I have no issue there.

McMann is cheap too, and while he hasn't shown up in the playoffs this year, he still has that offensive capability. I'm not dead set on keeping him either, but it's hard to tell how much of the team blackout on offense is a top down thing.

The other thing to keep in mind, is that replacing guys in UFA is an awfully expensive way to get things done.

Even Tavares I bring back, as a 3C.... if the price is right.

We are kind of over reacting at this point, and keep in mind this is a pretty good team... won the division. It's that the players who carried us to that point, don't perform in the playoffs... especially after a couple of early games in series. It's that which needs replacing, with more depth.

 

[SprDaVE]

We’ve blown our assets these past few years on garbage that has left us with very minimal assets to trade to actually improve our team.

There also really isn’t many free agents that can come in and play in the top six, Benn (probably re-signing in Dallas), Boeser (probably signing in Minnesota or going to play in the States), Ehlers (more of the same shit we have, poor man’s Marner), Nelson (same as Boeser) and Bennett (guy is laughing at our organization, no chance he signs here)…

This team has some OK secondary scoring players like Laughton (although its been rough with the Leafs), Domi and McMann, and JT could be likely be retained as well. This team might not be an offensive juggernaut as it was before if the expected players leave but I think you can round out the team just fine with free agents or trades. We cannot have 2 bottom lines that are beyond useless in terms of puck possession/shot attempts again and maybe the influx in money/roster space can allow us to upgrade a lot of that.

There are a few players that I think would be great for the mid-lines.

 

[TMLAM34]

I think the keep list is longer than that.

Lorentz has been an ok 4th liner. Laughton is a decent 4th liner as well... we just paid too much for him. Holmberg is a decent 13th player, and is cheap.

OEL has provided some great play for us at times, I have no issue there.

McMann is cheap too, and while he hasn't shown up in the playoffs this year, he still has that offensive capability. I'm not dead set on keeping him either, but it's hard to tell how much of the team blackout on offense is a top down thing.

The other thing to keep in mind, is that replacing guys in UFA is an awfully expensive way to get things done.

Even Tavares I bring back, as a 3C.... if the price is right.

We are kind of over reacting at this point, and keep in mind this is a pretty good team... won the division. It's that the players who carried us to that point, don't perform in the playoffs... especially after a couple of early games in series. It's that which needs replacing, with more depth.

Yeah, I wouldn’t go and dump all the players I didn’t name. I’ve actually enjoyed Lorentz and Laughton these playoffs, they’ve shown heart. McMann, even though he’s not scoring, he’s still skating and laying the body, etc. But if the right offer came along, I wouldn’t be upset about loosing any of them.

This would be a rough sketch of my ideal lines heading into the off-season with Matthews potentially centering the first line unless an offer comes along we can’t refuse.


Knies - _______ - Nylander
_______ - _______ - _______
McMann - Tavares - _______
Lorentz - Laughton - _______

McCabe - Tanev
_______ - Carlo
Ekman Larsson - _______

Stolarz - _______

 

[WTFMAN99]

This team has some OK secondary scoring players like Laughton (although its been rough with the Leafs), Domi and McMann, and JT could be likely be retained as well. This team might not be an offensive juggernaut as it was before if the expected players leave but I think you can round out the team just fine with free agents or trades. We cannot have 2 bottom lines that are beyond useless in terms of puck possessions/shot attempts again and maybe the influx in money/roster space can allow us to upgrade a lot of that.

There are a few players that I think would be great for the mid-lines.

Laughton could probably play 3rd line LW effectively, I don't think he's going to give any offense from centre anymore.

 

[SprDaVE]

Laughton could probably play 3rd line LW effectively, I don't think he's going to give any offense from centre anymore.

He did fine with Philly. He just needs more ice time overall. Went from 16ish to 12ish. Either way, he's shown to be a 40 point guy in most years. There's no reason why he can't do it again, especially with a lot of different parts.

 

[TMLAM34]

This team has some OK secondary scoring players like Laughton (although its been rough with the Leafs), Domi and McMann, and JT could be likely be retained as well. This team might not be an offensive juggernaut as it was before if the expected players leave but I think you can round out the team just fine with free agents or trades. We cannot have 2 bottom lines that are beyond useless in terms of puck possessions/shot attempts again and maybe the influx in money/roster space can allow us to upgrade a lot of that.

There are a few players that I think would be great for the mid-lines.

If Jeannot makes it to UFA, he’d be high up on my list. We need some tenacity, hard forechecking, speed and someone willing to drop the gloves that can stay in the lineup and not be a complete liability.

McMann - Tavares - Cowan/UFA
Lorentz - Laughton - Jeannot

A bottom six of that would interest me if Cowan shows he’s ready.

 

[Dreakmur]

He's signed Tanev, what else? That's actually good?

He brought in our #1 goalie in Stolarz. He brought in 4 of our top 6 defenders in Tanev, Carlo, OEL, and Benoit.

Up front, he didn’t do much other than bring in some good depth players in Pacioretty, Lorentz, and Laughton.

 

[SprDaVE]

If Jeannot makes it to UFA, he’d be high up on my list. We need some tenacity, hard forechecking, speed and someone willing to drop the gloves that can stay in the lineup and not be a complete liability.

McMann - Tavares - Cowan/UFA
Lorentz - Laughton - Jeannot

A bottom six of that would interest me if Cowan shows he’s ready.

That'd be a good start, although I think the money might be tough to justify for a "4th liner" but he'd definitely be functional tough energy. There's quite a bit of options for to really give the team some functional depth.

I'd look at Armia and Mangiapane as bounce back offensive players. Eyssimont, Appleton, Tanev and Robinson for energy forecheckers that kill penalties, and then Gourde, Kunin and Dvorak for center depth.

 

[Menzinger]

In terms of free agents, they should look for a few two way forwards to allow for more defensive depth across the top 9 (and offsetting Marner's loss in that respect).

 

[Amadeus]

In terms of free agents, they should look for a few two way forwards to allow for more defensive depth across the top 9 (and offsetting Marner's loss in that respect).

Marner's loss will be huge for the regular season. Not easy replacing 100 points.

 

[WTFMAN99]

He did fine with Philly. He just needs more ice time overall. Went from 16ish to 12ish. Either way, he's shown to be a 40 point guy in most years. There's no reason why he can't do it again, especially with a lot of different parts.

I would be open to Matt Duchene in place of Patrick Kane as well.

I'd be open to Ehlers as well but does something like 8M get him signed?

 

[Rare Jewel]

Marner's loss will be huge for the regular season. Not easy replacing 100 points.

No, but getting a lot more offence out of the back end is another way to offset that.

It doesn't need to be done with one guy, and that goes for any departure.